Hydraulic dredge apparatus



Aug. 25, 1936. w. H. MILLER HYDRAULIC DREDGE APPARATUS Filed April 11,1952 PVz/Zs H BY 5m HIS ATTORN EYS Patented Aug. 25, 1936 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE HYDRAULIC DREDGE APPARATUS Willis H. Miller, Shawano, Wis.

Application April 11, 1932, Serial No. 604,612

6 Claims. (Cl. 177-351) This invention relates to certain novelimprovements in a hydraulic dredge apparatus, and has for its principalobject the provision of an improved construction of this character whichwill be highly eiflcient in use'and economical in manufacture.

In hydraulic dredging the customary practice of determining the cubicyardage dredged is to survey the dredged area before and after thedredging operation and to calculate the cubic yardage of solids movedaccording to known methods of calculation. This method is not altogethersatisfactory because, for example, it does not provide for accuratedetermination of the cubic yardage moved; it is expensive in time andlabor; and it does not enable the dredge operator to determine theamount of and percentage of solids in water and solid mixture beingmoved through the pipeline in or at any given time.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a new method andnew and eflicient apparatus for determining the amount or percentage ofsolid material in a mixture of solids and water moving through anhydraulic dredge pipeline or conduit of a given cross-sectional area inany given unit of time.

Another object of the invention is to provide means associated with saidapparatus to prevent error in the readings of the apparatus when thebody of water being dredged is disturbed by waves, operation of thedredge, or other causes.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of partstobe hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawing, showing the preferred form of construction and in which:

Fig. l is an elevational view of the invention assembled for use on aconventional hydraulic dredge or section line;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 3;

. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view on line 4- -4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 isa view on line 5--5 in Fig. 2, partly in section and partly in top plan;and

Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of a wiring circuit embodied in theinvention.

Referring now to the drawing, which illustrates a preferred andpractical embodiment of the invention, indicated at I0 is a body ofwater above which, on pontoons or floats II, is sup ported a conductorhydraulic dredge pipeline I2; the means for fastening the sections ofthe pipeline.or conduit I2 to the pontoons or floats II beingconventional and indicated generally at I3. Beforeproceeding with thedetailed description 5 of the invention, however, a general outlinethereof will be given. In practicing my invention I mount on thepipeline I2, by suitable fastening means I5, a casing generallyindicated at I4. Suspended below the casing I4 is a float cham- 10 berI6 in which is arranged a float II. The float I I is attached to a,vertically slidable rod 24, and the rod 24 is pivotally connected at I8,to a pivotal rocker arm I9. The rocker arm I9 is pivotally connected, at20, to a sliding contact arm 15 2|. The float chamber I6 hascommunication at 22 with a tube 23 that is submerged in the body ofwater III. The sliding contact arm 2| is associated with a rheostat 25that is connected in series with resistance coils 42. Clear water, that20 is, water unmixed with any dredged solid content is moved through theline I2 and the roller arm I9 is made fast to rod 24 by screw I8. Waterfrom the body I0 then enters the tube 23, flows into the chamber I6,raises the float I! to its 25 normal level relative to the surface ofthe body I0, the float I'I raises rod 24, and rod 24 pivots arm I9 whichmoves contact arm 2I into a position relative to rheostat 25corresponding to the specific gravity of the water in line I2, whereby30 a zero reading is indicated on the dial 2! of an indicating device,such as galvanometer 26, connected in series with rheostat 25 andresistance coils 42.

When, therefore, the dredging operation is be- 35 gun and solids mixedwith water are moved through the line I2, the specific gravity of thewater and solid mixture moving through line I2, being greater than thatofwater alone, causes the pipeline I2 and casing to fall and the pon- 40toons II to sink in the body of water I 2. The float is, however, buoyedup by a force equal to the weight of water it displaces in chamber It.When therefore the pipeline I2 and casing l4 fall, the float I7 beingbuoyed up remains sta- 45 tionary relative to conduit 12 and rocker armI9 which pivots at 39. This movement of rocker arm I9 slides contact arm2! on rheostat 25 whereby a reading is shown on the dial 21' ofindicating device 26 corresponding to the specific 5o ravity of thesolid and water mixture moving through the pipeline I 2. This reading ofthe dial 21 of indicating device 26 may then be translated for any crosssectional area of pipeline :2. into the percentage of solid material inthe mixture of solids and water passing through pipeline 52 at any giventime. From this may readily be calculated the number of cubic yards ofsolids passing through line 82 in a given unit of time.

Reverting now to the detailed description of the invention: Extendingthrough the casing it and through float chamber i6 is a rod 28 that isstationary relative to rod 26. The float ii is slidable on the rod 28.For inserting the float. ii and rod 22 into, and for removing the samefrom, the chamber it, a throat 29 is provided on the casing it. Overthis throat 29 is a closure member 30. The upper end of rod 28 isdetach=- ably attached to the closure member 3d, as at St, and the lowerend of the rod 28 is detachably attached to the bottom well 32 of thefloat chamber it.

Attached to the float ill is a sleeve dd that is slidable oh the rod 28and attached to this sleeve 33 is a clamping collar 3d. The lower end ofrod 24 is attached to the collar 3% as at 35. The rod 2d is slidable inguides 3t and ti attached to rod 28. Provided in the rocker arm 69 is aslot 33 $.37 and adjustably connecting the rocker arm it to the rod 2 3is a screw it that is extended through slot 38 and screwed into collar37 so as to have its inner end adapted to bear against rod 26.

The rocker arm is is fulcrumed between its ends on an adjustable screw39 which is mounted on a supporting base it arranged in the casing Hi.Provided in the rocker arm it is a slot so that the rocker arm 59 isadjustable relative to its fulcrum 39 to vary the lengths of the leverarms on opposite sides of the fulcrum. To provide further adjustment ofthe rocker am it the base ll) is provided with slots and attaching thebase (it to casing it are bolts id which are extended through slots Qt.

This invention includes means for preventing momentary depth changes,such as are due to waves, working of the dredge, or other causes, frominterfering with the accuracy of the reading of dial 2? of indicatingdevice 25. To this end the bottom wall 32 of the chamber 56 is providedwith a relatively small inlet 22 and to control water flow from the tube23 to the chamber 116 through inlet 22 a valve plate or damper 65 ispivotally mounted on the bottom wall 32 of chamber it as at it. A slot Mis provided in the plate and disposed in this slot d? is an end portiond8 of a rod 69. The rod $9 is rotatably mounted in brackets attached tothe wall of chamber it and the upper end of rod 69 extends into thecasing i l wherein it is provided with a handle 5i. By manipulating thehandle 58 the rod 69 may be turned to move the plate 35 so as to varythe size of chamber inlet 22.

The tube 23 may be open at both ends or it may be provided at variouspoints with openings for the admission of water from. the body it. When,therefore, the parts are arranged as shown in Fig. l and tube 23 issubmerged, the valve plate is moved to open inlet 22 so that water willflow into tube 23, through inlet 22 into float chamber it to raise thefloat i'i to its normal level relative to the surface of body it.Momentary depth changes in the body iii, such-as may be caused by waves,operation of the dredge, or other causes, do not however affect thelevel of the float it, since water from the body it cannot enterdirectly into the float chamber it, nor exert a force directly on floatH, but must first flow through tube 23. Disturbances in the body ofwater it cannot, therefore, afiect the float it nor operate rod 26,rocker arm it, and contact arm 29 to aflect the reading of dial 2?],since all the 'water entering chambers it must come through tube 23 andinlet 22 and the pressure of the water flowing into tube 23 and throughinlet '22 remains constant for any given depth of tube 23 irrespectiveof disturbances in the body of water id.

A zero reading, corresponding to the speciflc gravity of water it, isobtained on dial 2? by loosening screw it; and passing water, unmixedwith solids, through pipeline iii. The screw it is then tightened tofixedly connect rocker arm i9 and rod 2 The dredging is then begun andthe heavier specific gravity of the mixture ofsolids and water passingthrough pipeline i2 causes the pipeline i2 and casing it to settle, andthe float chamber it, and tube 23, as well as portions M to sink in bodyiii, while the float ii is buoyed up by the weight of water itdisplaces; whereby the rocker arm as is pivoted about its fulcrum 39.Rocker arm 99 therefore moves the sliding contact arm 20 on rheostat 25to actuate the galvanometer or indicating device 26. A reading istherefore shown on the dial 21 corresponding to the specific gravity ofthe mixture of water and solids passing through the pipeline 02 at anygiven time. From this may be calculated, for any given cross sectionalarea of pipeline E2, the percentage of solids in the mixture of solidsand water passing through pipeline E2 in a given unit of time.

For most efiicient operation the apparatus should be placed in thesecond or third length of section of pipeline 92 from the dredge as thelength of pipeline i 2 supporting the apparatus must have sumcientfreedom of movement to afford unhindered operation.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form ofconstruction for carrying my in= vention into efiect, this is capable ofvariation and modification, without departing from the spirit of theinvention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precisedetails of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of suchvariations and modifications as come within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is:

*1. An apparatus for determining the amount or percentage of solidmaterial passing through a hydraulic dredge pipeline in a given unit ofliquid body; electrical registering apparatus; and

devices associated with and operable by said last-named float foroperating the said electrical registering apparatus.

2. An apparatus for determining the amount or percentage of solidmaterial passing through a hydraulic dredge pipeline in a given unit oftime, comprising the combination of a hydraulic dredge pipelineincluding float means for supporting the pipeline on a liquid body; avertically extending float chamber supported by and aoeaam suspendedbelow the pipeline and extending into the liquid body; a horizontallyextending open ended tube supported by and suspended below the pipelineand float chamber for submergence therebelow; said tube havingcommunication between its ends with the said float chamber; a float inthe chamber and extending into the liquid body; electrical registeringapparatus; devices associated with and operable by said float foroperating the said electrical registering apparatus; means forcontrolling communication between the said float chamber and tube; andmeans for operating the said last named means.

3. The combination with a dredge pipe line, of a float connected withthe pipeline for supporting the same upon a liquid body, an indicatorcarried by said pipe line for indicating load variations of the pipeline and its contents, a float connected with said indicator andextending into said liquid body for operating said indicator, and meanscarried by said pipe line for protecting the secondnamed float from theforces of surface irregularities on said liquid body, said meanscomprising a compensating valve and a normally horizontal tubepositioned below said second named float and below the surface of saidliquid body,

' each end of the tube comprising an inlet, said tube havingcommunication with the said means.

4. The combination with a dredge pipe line, of a float connected withthe'pipe line for supporting the same upon a liquid body, a floatchamber mounted upon the pipe line and extending downwardly therefrom tosubmerge one end in the liquid body, a float arranged within said floatchamher, an electrically sensitive gauge, a mechanieai and electricalconnection between the gauge and said second-named float, and a guardchamber associated with the float chamber and having openings for theinlet of liquid, said float chamber and the guard chamber havingcommunication for the inlet of liquid.

5. The combination with a dredge pipe line, of a float connected withthe pipe line for support= ing the same upon a liquid body, a float chamber mounted upon the pipe line and extending downwardly therefrom tosubmerge one end in the liquid body, a float arranged within said floatchamber, a gauge, an operating connection between the gauge and saidsecond-named float, and a normally horizontal tubular member associatedwith the float chamber and being submerged in the liquid body, and saidtubular mem her having communication with the float cham her.

6. The combination with a dredge pipe line, of a float connected withthe pipe line for supporting the same upon a liquid body, a floatchamber mounted upon the pipe line and extending downwardly therefrom tosubmerge one end in the liquid body, a float arranged within said floatchamber, a gauge, an operating connection between the gauge and saidsecond-named float, a normally horizontal tubular member associated withthe float chamber beneath the same and being submerged in the liquidbody, and a valve for establishing communication between the tubularmember and the float chamber.

WILLIS H. MILLER.

